Unauthorized credit or debit card charge
Charges on your card you did not authorize. Card number, not full account, compromised.
If you file within 60 days with reasonable documentation, getting your money back is the norm. For debit cards, the bank usually puts the money back temporarily within 10 business days while they investigate; for credit cards, the charge is usually removed right away. The bank dispute is the recovery — every other step here supports it.
Do this first
Call the fraud number on the back of your card. Not the branch, not the app's general support. Tell them you have fraudulent charges and need to file a dispute. The legal rules that protect you are Regulation Z for credit cards and Regulation E for debit cards — you can mention them, but you don't have to.
Calls to make first
Phone calls move faster than online filings, especially in the first 24–48 hours. Make these calls before, or while, you work through the templated filings below.
1. Your card issuer's fraud line
24/7 for major issuersOn the back of the cardWhat to say: Say: 'I have fraudulent charges on my card and need to file a dispute.' You can also mention the legal rules that protect you — Regulation Z for credit, Regulation E for debit — but you don't have to. Ask for a new card while you're on the call.
Why this one: Federal law limits how much you can be charged for fraud on your card: $50 maximum on a credit card. The same $50 cap on a debit card applies only if you report within 2 business days; wait longer and the cap rises to $500. Calling fast matters.
2. Your local police non-emergency line
24/7 for non-emergency; online forms available anytimeSearch '[your city] police non-emergency' or 311 in many cities. Online report option exists in most US cities.What to say: Say: 'I want to file a police report for fraud. I'm not asking for an investigation — I need a case number for my bank and federal filings.' Get the case number in writing or by email.
Why this one: The case number is the deliverable. Most departments do not investigate losses under ~$5,000, but the case number is required by many banks for dispute processing and by the FTC identity-theft flow.
3. AARP Fraud Watch Helpline
Mon–Fri 8am–8pm ETWhat to say: Free helpline staffed by trained volunteers. Walk through your situation; they'll help you decide what to file first. You do not have to be an AARP member or over 50.
Why this one: If you'd like to talk to a real person before doing any of the filings. They cannot recover funds for you, but they will help you think through the order.
Find your bank's official fraud page
Each link goes to the bank's main domain. The current fraud phone number lives on that page — call the number listed there, or the one printed on the back of your card. Don't trust phone numbers found in a search result.
- Chasewww.chase.com
- Bank of Americawww.bankofamerica.com
- Wells Fargowww.wellsfargo.com
- Citiwww.citi.com
- Capital Onewww.capitalone.com
Don't see your bank? Type its name into a search engine with the words "report fraud" and only follow a link whose domain matches the bank's main website. Scammers buy ads on bank-name searches; the top result is not always real.
Channels in priority order
1. Bank or card-issuer dispute
Investigates the transaction and can reverse it. This is where most actual recovery happens. The legal rules that require the bank to investigate are called Regulation E (for debit cards and electronic transfers) and Regulation Z (for credit cards) — mentioning the name on the call signals you know your rights.
Call the fraud number on the back of your card, or your bank's fraud line — not the branch and not the general customer-service number. Say: 'I need to report fraud and file a dispute.' Be ready to email or upload documents. Before you hang up, get a dispute reference number.
Expected outcome: For debit cards, the bank usually puts the money back temporarily within 10 business days while they investigate. For credit cards, the charge is usually removed right away. Final decision takes 60–90 days. This is the single strongest place to recover money — every other step supports this one.
2. Local police report
Provides a case number that banks often require for dispute processing and that the FTC identity-theft flow uses. Most departments will not investigate losses under ~$5,000, but the report itself is the deliverable.
In person at the local precinct, online for most US cities (search '[your city] police online report'), or by non-emergency phone. Have the incident narrative, transaction details, and any scammer contact information ready. Request a case number before ending the report.
Expected outcome: Case number you cite in bank disputes, platform reports, and federal filings. Investigation unlikely for small losses; the documentation is the value.
3. FTC ReportFraud
Feeds the Consumer Sentinel database used by state attorneys general and law enforcement. Does not investigate individual cases.
Go to reportfraud.ftc.gov. The form is shorter than IC3 — about 10–15 minutes. Same incident narrative, less detail required.
Expected outcome: Aggregate enforcement signal. Useful for documentation. Not a recovery channel on its own.
4. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Collects your report for FBI analysis. The FBI rarely investigates individual cases, but the report still matters. For wire transfers over $50,000 to a bank in another country, the FBI has a fast-acting recall program (the Financial Fraud Kill Chain) that can sometimes get the money back — but only if you file IC3 quickly.
Go to ic3.gov, click 'File a Complaint.' The form asks for the incident narrative, financial details, scammer information, and how you were contacted. Plan 20–40 minutes for the first complete filing. Save the confirmation number — some banks and platforms accept it as evidence of a federal report.
Expected outcome: Confirmation number you can cite to banks, platforms, and law enforcement. No individual investigation for most cases. Aggregate data drives federal action against fraud rings over time.
Free, official help from a real person
If you'd like to talk to someone before filing, these are free public services. They cannot recover funds for you, but they will walk you through what to do next.
- AARP Fraud Watch Helpline — 877-908-3360. Free, 7 days/week, you do not need to be an AARP member or over 50. Trained volunteers who specialize in scam recovery guidance.
- FTC ReportFraud advisor — reportfraud.ftc.gov. After filing, the FTC sometimes connects you with a consumer- advice specialist.
- FTC IdentityTheft.gov — identitytheft.gov. Best place to start if your Social Security number, accounts, or personal information were exposed.
- FBI IC3 — ic3.gov. Federal intake for internet-enabled crime.
- CFPB — consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Use this if your bank refuses your fraud dispute.